For Kodak, New Risks In Auction Of Patents

Bids for patents being auctioned by Eastman Kodak Co. could become less generous now that the company has lost a key intellectual-property case against Apple Inc. and Research In Motion Ltd.

The International Trade Commission dismissed the onetime film giant's complaint against the iPhone and BlackBerry makers late Friday, after concluding that a patent that has been highly lucrative for Kodak was invalid.